Midland Road in Monitor Township closed until November 15

View full sizeLauryn Schroeder | Bay City TimesConstruction will begin on Midland Road tomorrow, in-between 2 Mile Road and a quarter mile west of 3 Mile Road. The project is expected to be completed on November 15th.

MONITOR TOWNSHIP — Starting Thursday morning, Midland Road will be closed in-between 2 Mile Road and a quarter mile past 3 Mile Road, for a full reconstruction of the street and underlying base.

In total the project will cost nearly $2.4 million and is expected to be completed November 15, of this year.

“The road was just in really bad shape,” said Engineer-Manager for the Bay County Road Commission, Jim Lillo. “This has been on the books since 2009 so it was time that we got the project going.”

80 percent of the cost will be covered by the Bay City Area Transportation Study (BCATS). The agency conducts regional transportation studies for urbanized areas within the city.

The rest will be funded by the Bay County Road Commission.

“When you can get 80 percent of the total cost paid for, then I say go for it,” said Lois Mammel, of Monitor Township, who has lived just west of 3 Mile Road for 10 years. “Whether I get blocked in or not, I can deal with it.”

Mammel will be inconvenienced once school starts, but is confident the Road Commission will ensure safe transportation for those living within the area.

“I baby-sit my grandchildren a lot so sometimes I pick them up from school,” said Mammel. “As long as I have a way to get home, even if it goes through a field, I’ll be happy.

“The Road Commission should promise that much.”

According to Lillo, one lane will be open to traffic at all times for residents within the area and more importantly, the road will be open to all emergency vehicles.

The road is frequently used by the Monitor Township Fire Department, located at the intersection of 3 Mile and Midland Roads, and also the Auburn-Williams Fire Department, seven miles west of the construction zone.

“It is a must that the road be open to all emergency vehicles for the duration of the construction,” said Lillo. “Firetrucks and ambulances pass through the area six to seven times a day.”

Being inconvenienced with road construction is a small price to pay for Kim Thurau, who said the road upgrade is long overdue.

“It definitely needs it,” said Thurau. “The traffic on this road is always heavy and the conditions have been getting worse.”

To ensure gas lines won’t be damaged by future construction, Infrasouce workers are re-laying the lines located near the road. Shaw Contracting Co. will take over from there, having won the bid for the contracted project.

The Bay Country Road Commission would like to remind residents driving through the area to expect and plan for delays. If possible take the Alternative Detour Route — north to Wilder Road — when traveling, to avoide congestion in work zones.